Air cushion pad

ABSTRACT

An air cushion pad includes at least two sheet members, which are made of resilient materials. Each sheet member forms a plurality of hollow tubes projecting therefrom and the tubes are connected to each other by a substantially flat plate. The tubes of one sheet member and the tubes of the other sheet member are alternately fit to each other in an opposing manner to form the air cushion pad. When an external impact force is applied in a top down manner, the air cushion pad absorbs the impact force and undergoes sideways deformation so as to convert the impact force into a transverse to thereby realize shock absorption and eliminate damage caused by downward action of the impact force to provide the function of protection.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to an air cushion pad thatprovides multiple modes of shock absorption and impact cushioning and isapplicable to cushioning materials that bears pressure load, such asshoulder pads, seat cushions, wrist protectors, and shoe insole, andsports gloves that require shock absorption and impact cushioning for acontact surface or internal lining cushion of sports helmets.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Impact cushioning and shock absorption materials that are commonlyavailable in the market include rubber pads, foamed material pads, orair sack pads, which are applicable to different fields requiringdifferent aspect of cushioning protections. Tanking sports glove, suchas batting gloves worn by a batter of base ball, as an example, thebatting gloves are made of fabrics or leathers and a batter wears thegloves to isolate the bat and his or her hand skin in order to eliminatepotential risk of skidding caused by sweat when the batter tightly holdsthe bat and thus allowing the batter to well control the direction offorce application when he or she swings the bat to hit a ball. Thebatting glove is often provided with a shock absorption cushion pad,which is a thin pad for hand compliance as well as absorption of shockto eventually improve the performance of hitting.

As to sports helmets, some are known from for example Taiwan PatentApplication No. 97217691, which discloses a sports helmet in which aninner lining made in the form of air permeable air sack throughinjection molding of rubber is arranged. The inner lining has a surfaceforming a plurality of projecting pillars and is coupled, at the sameside, to a cushion pad made of a stiffer resilient material. On thecoupling surface, the cushion pad forms a plurality of cones to coupleto resilient hollow air passage posts of the air sack inner lining. Forsuch a lining cushion device, since the inner lining set on one side ismade in the form of permeable air sack and has a surface forming aplurality of projecting pillars, when it is subjected to a great impactforce, the rubber made projecting pillar provide an effect of cushioningdue to the material thereof, but the force that they can bear is onlythat having a component in a normal direction. Further, the air sack,due to the air enclosed therein being set in a predetermine space, isonly capable to bear a force component of an impact that is in thenormal direction, and the performance of resistance against a force in atransverse direction is poor because of the enclosed air sack being notsupported in the transverse direction, which leads to poor cushioningperformance when compressed by an external force. Thus, such a cushionpad does not provide high performance of cushioning.

In view of above discussed problems, it is desired to have an aircushion pad that is of a unique structure for applications of both lightand heavy impacts or shocks to offer excellent effects of shockabsorption and impact cushioning for both applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an aircushion pad, which has a simple structure, is easy to manufacture, andshows excellent effects for absorbing vibrations and cushioning impacts.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide an air cushionpad having a structure that is composed of a pad body that can be madeas either a thin pad or a thick pad or that can be made as a cushioningpad having either a small area or a large area, so as to allow forexpanded applications in various industries.

To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides an aircushion pad, which is composed of at least two sheet members, includingan upper sheet member and a lower sheet member, both being made ofresilient materials. Each sheet member forms a plurality of hollow tubesprojecting therefrom and the tubes are connected to each other by asubstantially flat plate. The tubes of the upper sheet member and thetubes of the lower sheet member are alternately fit to each other in anopposing manner to form the air cushion pad that provides the effects ofshock absorption and protection.

The air cushion pad may further comprise outer enclosure films thatrespectively set on and covers outer sides of the upper and lower sheetmembers. Outer circumferences of the two outer enclosure films aresealed together so that the two outer enclosure films form therebetweena hermetically enclosed air sack. Optionally, air valves can beadditionally mounted to the outer circumferences of the outer enclosurefilms.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introductionto the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects ofthe present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detaileddescription of the invention and the claims should be read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specificationand drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similarparts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will becomemanifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the air cushion pad of the firstembodiment of the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating deformationof the air cushion pad of the first embodiment of the present inventionacted upon by a normal force.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating deformationof the air cushion pad of the first embodiment of the present inventionacted upon by an inclined force.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the air cushion pad of the secondembodiment of the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cushioning pad that is constructed inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the cushioning pad of the presentinvention applied to a glove.

FIG. 10 is a plan view demonstrating dimension constraints for size andspacing of tubes formed on sheet members of the air cushion pad of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing side walls of the tubes of theair cushion pad of the present invention are made sloping.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing walls of the tubes of the aircushion pad of the present invention are of non-uniform thickness.

FIG. 13 is another cross-sectional view showing walls of the tubes ofthe air cushion pad of the present invention are of non-uniformthickness in a different configuration.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an upper sheet member of an aircushion pad in accordance with a further embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 14A is an enlarged view of a portion of the upper sheet membershown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper sheet member of FIG.14 to be assembled to a lower sheet member of the same structure.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the upper and lower sheet membersof FIG. 15 assembled together.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing an upper sheet member of an aircushion pad in accordance with a further embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17A is an enlarged view of a portion of the upper sheet membershown in FIG. 17.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper sheet member of FIG.17 assembled to a lower sheet member of the same structure.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an upper sheet member of an aircushion pad in accordance with a further embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 19A is a top plan view of a portion of the upper sheet member shownin FIG. 19.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view, partially broken, showing the upper sheetmember of FIG. 19 assembled to a lower sheet member of the samestructure.

FIG. 21 is an exploded view of an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the air cushion pad of the thirdembodiment of the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 23 shows an example arrangement of tubes of upper and lower sheetmembers of the air cushion pad of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view of an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a further embodiment of the present invention comprisingupper and lower sheet members that are made different.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view of the upper and lower sheet membersof FIG. 24 assembled together.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the presentinvention where sheet members that constitute an air cushion pad of thepresent invention possess both long and short tubes.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the upper and lower sheet membersof FIG. 26 assembled together

FIG. 28 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the presentinvention where upper and lower sheet members are connected to eachother by a thin leaf.

FIG. 29 is an exploded view of an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, whichcomprises a double-sided lining member.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view, partially broken, of the air cushion padof the fourth embodiment of the present invention in an assembled form.

FIG. 31 is an exploded view, in sectioned form, of the air cushion padof the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32 is an exploded view, in sectioned form, of the air cushion padof the fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing a differentstructure thereof.

FIG. 33 is an exploded view of an upper sheet member of an air cushionpad constructed in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 34 is a perspective view of the upper sheet member of the aircushion pad of the fifth embodiment of the present invention in anassembled form.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the air cushion pad of the fifthembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 36 is an exploded view of a double-sided lining member of an aircushion pad constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of the double-sided lining member ofthe present invention.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view of an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an air cushion pad constructed in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention, generally designated at 10,generally comprises an upper sheet member 11 and a lower sheet member12. The upper and lower sheet members are made of resilient materialsand are preferably structured in substantially the same way so that theupper sheet member 11 forms hollow tubes 13 integrally projectingtherefrom and the lower sheet member 12 forms hollow tubes 14 integrallyprojecting therefrom. The tubes 13 are connected to each other by asubstantially flat plate 15 and the tubes 14 are connected to each otherby a substantially flat plate 16, whereby the distance between adjacenttubes of the plate 15, 16 is substantially corresponding to or slightlygreater than a diameter of the tubes 13, 14 and thus the projectinghollow tubes 13 and the projecting hollow tubes 14 are allowed toalternately fit between each other in an opposing manner as shown inFIG. 3 with tip ends of the tubes 13, 14, which are rounded ordome-shaped in the instant embodiment, positioned against the plate 16,15. Consequently, every four tubes 13 surround and define therebetween acushioning and deformation space B, while every four tubes 14 surroundand define therebetween a cushioning and deformation space A. The tubes13, 14 can be constructed to have any desired height, and further, thetubes 13, 14 can also be constructed to have any desired diameter.

Referring to FIG. 4A, when the cushion pad 10 of the present inventionis subjected to compression by a normal force, firstly, a compressionsite 60 is induced on a surface of the plate 15, and then the forceacting on the compression site progresses downward to cause a normaldeformation of the plate 15. The deformation of the plate is furthertransmitted to the tubes 14 of the lower sheet member, causing tubularwalls of tubes 14 to deform. The tubular walls of tubes 14, whendeformed, are caused to squeeze the tubular walls of the tubes 13 thatare in engagement therewith. The force or shock caused thereby is thusabsorbed by resilient deformations induced in a single tube 14 and fouradjacent tubes 13 so as to realize an effect of cushioning.

Further, besides the shock absorption realized by the deformation of thetubular walls of the tubes 13, 14, the interior of each tube 13, 14,which forms a cavity 17, 18 in the form of an open space, is subjectedto the deformation of the tubular wall of the tube 13, 14 to have aircontained in the cavity 17, 18 to be compressed and expelled outward.Since the speed that air is expelled outward is slower than the speedthat the shock acts on the tubes, an effect of cushioning is induced.Consequently, the air cushion pad 10 of the present invention providesan excellent cushioning effect when acted upon by a normal force.

Referring to FIG. 4B, when the cushion pad 10 of the present inventionis subjected to compression by an inclined force, firstly, a forceacting on and compressing a compression site 61 downward is transmitteddownward in an inclined direction to cause an inclined deformation ofthe plate 15. The deformation of the plate is further transmitted to thetubes 14 of the lower sheet member, causing the tubular walls of thetubes 14 to deform. The tubular walls of the tubes 14, when defolined,are caused to squeeze the tubular walls of the tubes 13 that are inengagement therewith. Since the tubes 14 abut a surface of the plate 15,with the tight engagement formed between the tubular walls of the tubes13, 14, the deformation of tubular walls make gaps a and b formed on theupper side not corresponding to each other and limited amounts of aircontained in the enclosed spaces of the gaps, due to the compression anddeformation of the tubular walls, make the spaces of the gapsunsymmetrical so as to induce compression of the air. The samephenomenon is also applicable to gaps c and d on the lower side wherethe tubes 13 abut a surface of the plate 16. The lower side gaps c and dare also caused to be unsymmetrical due to the deformation of thetubular walls, and the limited amounts of air contained in the enclosedspaces of the gaps are forced to displace and compress, leading to aneffect of delaying, which provides an effect of cushioning.Consequently, the air cushion pad 10 of the present invention providesan excellent cushioning effect when acted upon by an inclined force.

Referring to FIGS. 5-7, an air cushion pad constructed in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention is shown. In theinstant embodiment, the air cushion pad, also designated with referencenumeral 10, is composed of an upper sheet member 11 and a lower sheetmember 12, which are further and respectively covered by outer enclosurefilms 21, 22. The upper and lower sheet members are made of resilientmaterials and are preferably structured in substantially the same way.Projecting hollow tubes 13 integrally formed on the upper sheet member11 and projecting hollow tubes 14 integrally formed on the lower sheetmember 12 are allowed to alternately fit between each other in anopposing manner as shown in FIG. 7. The upper sheet member 11 is thencovered by the outer enclosure film 21 and the lower sheet member 12 iscovered by the outer enclosure film 22. The two outer enclosure films21, 22 are then sealed together along outer circumferences thereof byany known means, such as high-frequency machining, ultrasonic plasticfusion operation, pressurized thermal bonding, or application ofadhesives, whereby the two outer enclosure films 21, 22 formtherebetween an enclosed sack 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, inside the sack 20, the tubes 13 are connected toeach other by a substantially flat plate 15 and the tubes 14 areconnected to each other by a substantially flat plate 16, whereby thedistance between adjacent tubes provided on the plate 15, 16 issubstantially corresponding to or slightly greater than a diameter ofthe tubes 13, 14, and every four tubes 13 surround and definetherebetween a cushioning and deformation space B, while every fourtubes 14 surround and define therebetween a cushioning and deformationspace A. The two outer enclosure films 21, 22, with the outercircumferences thereof being sealed together, allow the spaces ofcavities 17, 18 defined inside the tubes 13, 14 to be completely andhermetically enclosed in a sealed sack, whereby when the sack 20 issubjected to impact by an external force, either a normal force or aninclined force, and thus compressed, the tubes 13, 14 are compressed anddeformed and airs contained inside the cavities 17, 18 that undergodeformation are squeezed and displace to portions of the tubes that arenot deformed. Due to the tubes 13, 14 being made of resilient materials,the tubular walls thereof are swelled and deformed, resulting in aneffect of cushioning.

Referring to FIG. 8, a cushioning pad constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, generally designated with reference numeral 20 a, isshown, wherein tubes 13, 14 are distributed in a localized manner. Asshown, the cushioning pad 20 a, which is in the form of an air sack, hasfour corner sections, where a great number of tubes 13, 14 are denselyand respectively distributed in large zones 30, and a central portionwhere small zones 40 are formed in which a number of tubes 13, 14 aredistributed in a localized manner. Between the large zones 30 and thesmall zones 40, substantially flat plates and outer enclosure films 21,22 are connected in a multi-layered manner to thereby form a thin airsack like cushioning pad.

Referring to FIG. 9, in an application to a glove, a cushion pad 20 a ofthe present invention is mounted to for example the palm portion of aglove 50. The cushion pad 20 a is filled up with gas and is hermeticallyenclosed, whereby gas pressure inside the cushion pad can be used toabsorb shocks and vibrations.

Referring to FIG. 10, limitations to the size and spacing of the tubes13 (as well as tubes 14) can be set as follows:

Definition of parameters/symbols:

R=radius of tubes

D=diameter of tubes

X=spacing between diagonally opposing tubes

P1=distance between centers of two diagonally opposing tubes

P2=distance between centers of two adjacent tubes

wherein:

P1=X+2R

2R=X=4R (range of X)

4R=P1=6R

2D=P1=3D (range of P1)

P2=P1/v2

2D/v2=P2=3D/v2 (range of P2)

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the height (H) of the tubes is also afactor that affects the shock absorbability of the cushion pad.

When H>3D, the tubes have a great height, whereby the tubes, when actedupon by an impact in an onward direction, allows for conversion into agreat displacement in a transverse direction and significant stackingeffect can be induced between tubular walls of tubes, so that a cushionpad made in this way is considered a strong impact resistant cushionpad.

When 3/2D=H=3D, the tubes, when acted upon by an impact in an onwarddirection, allows for conversion into a moderate displacement in atransverse direction and a moderate stacking effect of the tubular wallsbetween tubes can be found. Thus, a cushion pad made in this way isconsidered a balanced cushion pad that is effective in resisting impactand absorbing vibration.

When H<3/2D, the tubes have a small height, whereby the tubes, whenacted upon by an impact in an onward direction, allows for conversioninto a small displacement in a transverse direction. Thus, a cushion padmade in this way is considered a light-load vibration-absorbing typecushion pad.

As shown in FIG. 11, according to the present invention, tubes 13, 14can be constructed with side walls that are sloped. As shown, the sidewalls of the tubes 13, 14 show an included angle 0 with respect to ahorizontal plane. For θ=90 degrees, the maximum cushioning effectagainst an impact is shown. For θ<90 degrees and decremented, theresistance shown by the tubes against an impact is gradually reduced.Thus, it is possible to select a desired angle θ for forming the slopeof the side walls of the tubes according to the desired property andrequirement for a specific product. In other words, for a “soft” pad,which is only resistant against a light load of impact, the angle θ ismade small. For a “rigid” pad, which has excellent resistance against aheavy load of impact but shows a short response of cushioning, the angleθ is made large. This feature can be adjusted according to a desiredproportion to the height (H) and the diameter (D) of the tubes that arediscussed previously.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the tubes 13, 14 can also have a side wallthat is of a non-uniform thickness. As shown in FIG. 12, the tubes 13,14 have a great wall thickness at a root portion thereof and thegeometry of the side wall is not straight or linear, but is of a concavecurved line, and shows a small thickness at a location close to the tip.Or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the wall thickness of the tubesis made non-uniform, showing a great thickness at a root portion of thetubes 13, 14 and the geometry of the side wall is not straight orlinear, but is of a convex curved line and shows a small thickness at alocation close to the tip.

The tubes 13, 14 can be of a rounded or dome-shaped tip end, oralternatively, the tip end of the tubes is made flat or is of aninwardly recessed configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 14, 14A, 15, and 16, an air cushion pad constructedin accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention is ofsubstantially the same structure as that shown in FIG. 1 formed bycomposing identical upper sheet member 11 and lower sheet member 12 thatare fit to each other, but the lower sheet member 12 (as well as theupper sheet member 11) of the instant embodiment is of a configurationthat a plurality of hollow tubes 14 (tubes 13 for the upper sheet member11) projecting from a plate 16 and connection ribs 141 are arranged toconnect between tubular walls of the tubes 14 (tubes 13 being connectedby connection ribs 131) in such a way that the connection ribs 131,141are set at a 90 degree angular interval around the tubular wall of eachtube. Each of the connection ribs 141 has a top which has a centralportion forming a notch 142, and each of the connection ribs 131 has atop which has a central portion forming a notch 132 (as shown in FIG.15). Referring to FIG. 15, when upper sheet member 11 and the lowersheet member 12 are inter-fit to each other, the tubes 13, 14 are put insideway engagement with each other and the support for the side walls ofthe tubes 13, 14 is enhanced, so as to realize an effect of cushioningby taking and converting an impact into deformation in a transversedirection. Preferably, the notches 142 have a recessed depth of m andthe connection ribs 141 have a height of n, wherein the formula m=n/2 issatisfied, so as to allow the notches 132 of the connection ribs 131 andthe notches 142 of the connection ribs 141 to inter-fit to each otherwhen the tubes 13, 14 are inter-fit to each other and also allow the tipends of the tubes to be positioned in engagement with the plates 15, 16.

Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a further embodiment of the present invention is shown,and is an expanded modification of the previous embodiment of thepresent invention, wherein for the structure of the upper sheet member11 and the lower sheet member 12 according to the instant embodiment,the lower sheet member 12 (as well as the upper sheet member 11) forms aplurality of hollow tubes 14 (tubes 13 for the upper sheet member 11)projecting from a plate 16 and ribs 143 (as shown in FIG. 17A) areprovided on an outer surface of the tubular wall of each tube 14 in sucha way that the ribs are set at 90 degree angular interval around theouter surface of the tubular wall of the tube. Similarly, as shown inFIG. 18, each of the tubes 13 is provided, on an outer surface of atubular wall thereof, with ribs 133. Consequently, when the tubes 13, 14are inter-fit to each other, support for the side walls of the tubes 13,14 can be improved.

Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, in a further embodiment of the presentinvention, a lower sheet member 12 (as well as an upper sheet member 11)comprises a plate 16 from which a plurality of hollow square tubes 14 aprojects, while the upper sheet member 11 comprises a plate 15 fromwhich a plurality of hollow square tubes 13 a projects. Each of thesquare tubes 13 a has a hollow interior space that forms a circularcavity 134, and each of the square tubes 14 a has a hollow interiorspace that forms a circular cavity 144. In this way, the tubes 13 a, 14a can be of a greater wall thickness in specific directions to make thetubes more resistant against impact.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, an air cushion constructed in accordancewith a further embodiment of the present invention embodiment is shown,wherein the air cushion pad, generally designated at 10, is composed ofan upper sheet member 11 a and a lower sheet member 12 a. It is notedthat in the embodiments that are discussed previously, the sheet memberscomprise plates that are substantially flat, but in the instantembodiment, the sheet members can be selectively made in the form of athree-dimensional curved configuration. For example, the upper sheetmember 11 a is integrally made in a configuration having a curvedsurface and comprises tubes 13 that are mounted to a concave curvedinside surface 15 a and vertically extend downward, while the lowersheet member 12 a is integrally made in a configuration having a curvedsurface and comprises tubes 14 that are mounted to a convex outsidecurved surface 16 a and vertically extend upward. In this way, when thetubes 13, 14 are inter-fit to each other with circumferential edges ofthe concave surface 15 a and the convex surface 16 a abutting each otherto allow for performance of high-frequency machining, ultrasonic plasticfusion operation, pressurized thermal bonding, or application ofadhesives for hermetic sealing to thereby form an air sack like cushionpad.

Referring to FIG. 23, in the previously discussed embodiments of thepresent invention, the upper sheet member and the lower sheet membercomprise tubes 13, 14 that are arranged in such a spatial configurationthat every four tubes surround one tube and every two tubes surround onetube along a line. However, in the instant embodiment shown in thedrawing, an arrangement that three tubes surround one tube is provided,and it similarly shows an effect of cushioning.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, an air cushion pad constructed inaccordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, generallydesignated at 10, is shown. The air cushion pad 10 comprises ashort-tube upper sheet member 11 b and a long-tube lower sheet member 12b. The upper and lower sheet members are made of resilient materials andare constructed in different configurations, where the short-tube uppersheet member 11 b comprises short hollow tubes 13 b integrally formedtherewith and projecting therefrom, while the long-tube lower sheetmember 12 b comprises long hollow tubes 14 b integrally formed therewithand projecting therefrom. The short tubes 13 b are connected to eachother by a substantially flat plate 15 b, and the long tubes 14 b areconnected to each other by a substantially flat plate 16 b, whereby thedistance between adjacent tubes of the plate 15 b, 16 b is substantiallycorresponding to or slightly greater than a diameter of the tubes 13 b,14 b and thus the projecting short hollow tubes 13 b and the projectinglong hollow tubes 14 b are allowed to alternately fit between each otherin an opposing manner as shown in FIG. 25 with tip ends of the longtubes 14 b, which are rounded or dome-shaped, positioned against theplate 15 b and the short tubes 13 b forming a gap C with respect to theplate 16 b. The tubes 13 b, 14 b can be made with any desired heights,but with a difference maintained between the long and short tubes.Further, the tubes 13 b, 14 b can be made with any desired diameter.With such an arrangement, cushioning effect against impacts acting indifferent direction is of different result, wherein the plate 15 b canoffer a strong cushioning effect against an impact applying downwardfrom an upper side, while due to the gap C, the plate 16 b provides onlya weak cushioning effect against an impact applying upward from a lowerside.

Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, a further embodiment of the presentinvention provides both short tubes 13 b and long tubes 14 b on an uppersheet member 11 c and a lower sheet member 12 c and the short tubes 13 band the long tubes 14 b are commonly connected to each other by asubstantially flat plate 15 c, while in the lower sheet member 12 c, theshort tubes 13 b and the long tubes 14 b are commonly connected to eachother by a substantially flat plate 16 c, whereby the upper sheet member11 c and the lower sheet member 12 c allow the projecting short hollowtubes 13 b and the projecting long hollow tubes 14 b to fit between eachother in an opposing manner as shown in FIG. 27. The short tubes 13 bform a gap C with respect to the plate 15 c, 16 c and such gaps C areuniformly distributed over the whole air cushion pad 10, whereby thecushion pad may offer strong cushioning effect in local spots, but onlyhave a weak cushioning effect for local spots where the gags C areformed.

Referring to FIG. 28, in a further embodiment of the present invention,an upper sheet member 11 and a lower sheet member 12 are connected toeach other by a thin leaf 19, whereby when the upper sheet member 11 andthe lower sheet member 12 are to mate each other, efficient and easypositioning of the sheet members can be realized.

Referring to FIGS. 29-31, in a further embodiment of the presentinvention, an upper sheet member 11 d and a lower sheet member 12 dinterpose therebetween a layer of an intermediate lining. In the instantembodiment shown in the drawing, the intermediate lining comprises adouble-sided lining member 70 made of a resilient material. The uppersheet member 11 d and the lower sheet member 12 d comprise outerenclosure films 21 a, 22 a set to respectively cover outside surfacesthereof. The upper sheet member 11 d forms a plurality of tubes 13, andthe lower sheet member 12 d forms a plurality of tubes 14. Thedouble-sided lining member is constructed as shown in FIG. 29,comprising a first sheet member 71 a and a second sheet member 71 b. Thefirst sheet member 71 a forms a plurality of tubes 13 c and the secondsheet member 71 b forms a plurality of tubes 14 c. An extension tab 72extends sideway from each of the first and second sheet members and thefirst sheet member 71 a and the second sheet member 71 b are arranged tobond to each other in a back-to-back manner with sealing being madealong bonding edges 73 by high-frequency machining, ultrasonic plasticfusion operation, pressurized thermal bonding, or application ofadhesives, whereby the two sheet members 71 a, 71 b form an air sacklike internal space 74 and the extension tab 72 form therebetween an airvent passage 75 communicating the outside. Thus, when the tubes 13 ofthe upper sheet member 11 d are fit between the tubes 13 c formed on anupper surface of the double-sided lining member 70 and the tubes 14 ofthe lower sheet member 12 d are fit between the tubes 14 c formed on alower surface of the double-sided lining member 70, the two outerenclosure films 21 a, 22 a, the first sheet member 71 a, and the secondsheet member 71 b are sealed together by high-frequency machining,ultrasonic plastic fusion operation, pressurized thermal bonding, orapplication of adhesives along common outer circumference thereof,whereby the two outer enclosure films 21 a, 22 a form an enclosed sacktherebetween. It is also feasible to make an intermediate lining of thesame function by integrally forming hollow tubes on opposite surfaces ofa single plate, without forming an air sack like internal space 74between the sheet members 71 a, 71 b, to replace formation of theintermediate lining by bonding an upper sheet member 11 d and a lowersheet member 12 d.

Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, a double-sided lining member 70 as shownin FIG. 31 is constructed by bonding upper-side and lower-side sheetmembers together with the tubes 13 c formed on the upper-side sheetmember and the tubes 14 c formed on the lower-side sheet member inalignment with each other. A double-sided lining member 70 a as shown inFIG. 32 is constructed by bonding upper-side and lower-side sheetmembers together with the tubes 13 c formed on the upper-side sheetmember and the tubes 14 c formed on the lower-side sheet member arrangedto alternate with respect to each other. Both ways allow for theformation of an air sack like internal space 74 between the sheetmembers 71 a, 71 b.

Referring to FIGS. 33-35, in a further embodiment of the presentinvention, an upper sheet member 11 e and a lower sheet member 12 e areattached to each by having tubes formed thereon inter-fit to each. And,outside surfaces of the upper sheet member 11 e and the lower sheetmember 12 e are respectively provided with and covered by outerenclosure films 21 a, 22 a. The upper sheet member 11 e is provided withan air vent passage 75 communicating the outside, and the lower sheetmember 12 e also forms an air vent passage 75 communicating the outside.With the tubes 13 of the upper sheet member 11 e and the tubes 14 of thelower sheet member 12 e inter-fit to each other and the two outerenclosure films 21 a, 22 a respectively covering the upper sheet member11 e and the lower sheet member 12 e, sealing is made by high-frequencymachining, ultrasonic plastic fusion operation, pressurized thermalbonding, or application of adhesives along common outer circumference toallow the two outer enclosure films 21 a, 22 a to form therein anenclosed sack, and the upper sheet member 11 e and the lower sheetmember 12 e form therein air sack like internal spaces 74.

Referring to FIG. 33, the instant embodiment of the present inventionwill be described with the upper sheet member 11 e as an example. Thestructure of the lower sheet member 12 e is the same. The upper sheetmember 11 e comprises a sheet member 71, which forms thereon a pluralityof tubes 13, and an extension tab 72 sideway extending therefrom. Thesheet member 71 has a bottom surface to which a bottom plate 76 isattached. Sealing is made along a bonding edge 73 extending along anouter circumference of the sheet member 71 by high-frequency machining,ultrasonic plastic fusion operation, pressurized thermal bonding, orapplication of adhesives, whereby the sheet member 71 and the bottomplate 76 are bonded to each other to form an air sack like internalspace 74 (see FIG. 35) therebetween. The extension tab 72 forms thereinan air vent passage 75 in communication with the outside. A rigid upperlid 77 is provided, which forms a plurality of holes 78 corresponding,in position, to the tubes 13, whereby the rigid upper lid 77 and a rigidlower lid 79 are arranged to interpose the sheet member 71 therebetweento form the upper sheet member 11 e. The lower sheet member 12 e is ofthe same structure as the upper sheet member. Thus, when the tubes 13 ofthe upper sheet member 11 e and the tubes 14 of the lower sheet member12 e are fit to each other, and the two outer enclosure films 21 a, 22 arespectively cover the upper sheet member 11 e and the lower sheetmember 12 e, sealing is made along a common outer circumference byhigh-frequency machining, ultrasonic plastic fusion operation,pressurized thermal bonding, or application of adhesives to have the twoouter enclosure films 21 a, 22 a forming therebetween an enclosed sack.In this way, the distance between the rigid upper lid 77 and the rigidlower lid 79 enhances the cushioning effect realized through aircompression.

Referring to FIGS. 36-38, in an embodiment of the present invention, adouble-sided lining member 70 b is constructed as shown in FIG. 36,which comprises a first sheet member 71 a and a second sheet member 71b. The first sheet member 71 a forms a plurality of tubes 13 c and thesecond sheet member 71 b forms a plurality of tubes 14 c, extension tabs72 extend sideways from the two sheet members. The first sheet member 71a and the second sheet member 71 b are bonded to each other in aback-to-back manner and sealing is made along bonding edges 73 extendingalong outer circumferences by high-frequency machining, ultrasonicplastic fusion operation, pressurized thermal bonding, or application ofadhesives, whereby the two sheet members 71 a, 71 b form therebetween anair sack like internal space 74, and the extension tabs 72 form thereinan air vent passage 75 communicating the outside. Further, in a feasibleembodiment that is not shown in the drawings, the extension tabs 72 areomitted and the bonding edges 73 extending completely along the outercircumferences are sealed to each other to enclose the air sack likeinternal space 74 sealed inside. A rigid upper lid 77 is provided, whichforms a plurality of holes 78 corresponding, in position, to the tubes13, whereby the rigid upper lid 77 and a rigid lower lid 79 interposethe sheet members 71 therebetween to form a double-sided lining member70 b. As shown in FIG. 38, the present invention allows an upper sheetmember 11 e, a lower sheet member 12 e, and a plurality of double-sidedlining members 70 b combined together with the tubes inter-fit eachother and outside surfaces of the upper sheet member 11 e and the lowersheet member 12 e, which are located at the outermost locations, arerespectively provided with and covered by outer enclosure films 21 a, 22a.

The air cushion pad according to the present invention uses thecompression of air to absorb vibration. With a plurality of projectingsingle-axis tubes mutually engaging each other to serve as a shockabsorption material, when an impact is applied, the tubular walls oftubes undergo transverse displacement and deformation. When thedeformation is great, the deformation progresses to the neighboringtubes. And thus, a chain reaction can be expected to gradually expandthe area in which cushioning is performed to take the impact, so thatthe impact can be resisted and shock absorbed by change of angle of thewall thickness of the single-axis tubes. Thus, transverse distance andlongitudinal distance of the single-axis tubes of the air cushion pad donot need to be fixed, and further, the wall thickness of the single-axisdoes not need to be fixed either, and variation of the thickness isallowable.

To summarize, the air cushion pad according to the present inventionshows the following advantages:

(1) The air cushion pad is constructed with simple components and offersvarious modes of shock absorption, and thus allows for applications invarious sites where shock absorption and cushioning is needed.

(2) The air cushion pad can be hermetically sealed as an air sack likecushion pad, where shock suppression can be realized through airpressure induced inside the air sack by displacing a limited amount ofair contained inside the air cushion pad.

(3) The air cushion pad can be mounted to a glove to realize impactcushioning for the glove so as to provide the effects of shocksuppression and protection.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

1. An air cushion pad, comprising an upper sheet member and a lowersheet member, characterized in that: the upper sheet member is made of aresilient material and forms a plurality of hollow tubes projectingtherefrom, the tubes being connected by a plate; and the lower sheetmember is made of a resilient material and forms a plurality of hollowtubes projecting therefrom, the tubes being connected by a plate;wherein the hollow tubes of the upper sheet member and the hollow tubesof the lower sheet member are inter-fit to each other in an opposingmanner.
 2. The air cushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the uppersheet member comprises a curved sheet member having a concave curvedsurface from which the tubes vertically extend downward and wherein thelower sheet member comprises a curved sheet member having a convexcurved surface from which the tubes vertically extend upward.
 3. The aircushion pad according to claim 2, wherein when the tubes of the uppersheet member and the lower sheet member are inter-fit to each other,circumferential edges of the concave curved surface and the convexcurved surfaces abut each other to allow for sealing to each other byhigh-frequency machining, ultrasonic plastic fusion operation,pressurized thermal bonding, or application of adhesives.
 4. The aircushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the tubes of the upper sheetmember, the intermediate lining layer, and the lower sheet member areselectively provided with a lid made of a rigid material.
 5. The aircushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the tubes have tubular wallsbetween which connection ribs are arranged, each of the connection ribshaving a top having a central portion forming a notch, the connectionribs being arranged at a 90 degree angular interval around each of thetubes.
 6. The air cushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the tubeshave tip end positioned against opposite sheet member.
 7. The aircushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the tubes of the upper sheetmember, the lower sheet member, and the intermediate lining layer areselectively different in length.
 8. The air cushion pad according toclaim 1, wherein the tubes have tip ends that are of a predeterminedshape, including a dome shape, a flat configuration, and an inwardlyrecessed configuration.
 9. The air cushion pad according to claim 1,wherein the cushion pad comprises tubes that are locally distributed inlarge zones and tubes that are locally distributed in small zones. 10.The air cushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the tubes form notcheshaving a depth m in tubular walls thereof and the tubes compriseconnection ribs having a height n, which satisfy the followingcondition: m=n/2, the connection ribs being arranged at 90 degreeangular interval around each of the tubes.
 11. The air cushion padaccording to claim 1, wherein the tubes comprise ribs formed on an outersurface thereof and the ribs are arranged at 90 degree angular intervalalong the outer surface.
 12. The air cushion pad according to claim 1,wherein the tubes are square tubes having a hollow interior forming acircular cavity
 13. The air cushion pad according to claim 1, whereinthe hollow tubes of the upper sheet member and the lower sheet memberare fit to each other in such a way that every two tubes surround onetube along a line.
 14. The air cushion pad according to claim 1, whereinthe tubes have tubular walls that have a non-uniform wall thickness. 15.The air cushion pad according to claim 1, wherein the tubes have a sidewall that is of a slope.
 16. The air cushion pad according to claim 1,wherein the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member are connectedto each other by a leaf.
 17. The air cushion pad according to claim 1,wherein the upper sheet member and the lower sheet member arerespectively provided on outer sides thereof with outer enclosure filmsthat have outer circumferences bonded together to form an enclosed sackbetween the outer enclosure films.
 18. An air cushion pad comprising anupper sheet member, at least one intermediate lining layer, and a lowersheet member, characterized in that: the upper sheet member is made of aresilient material and forms a plurality of hollow tubes projectingtherefrom, the tubes being connected by a plate; each intermediatelining layer is made of a resilient material and has at least onesurface forming a plurality of hollow tubes projecting therefrom; andthe lower sheet member is made of a resilient material and forms aplurality of hollow tubes projecting therefrom, the tubes beingconnected by a plate; wherein the hollow tubes of the upper sheet memberand the hollow tubes of the lower sheet member are inter-fit to eachother in an opposing manner.
 19. The air cushion pad according to claim18, wherein the intermediate lining layer comprises a double-sidedlining member, which comprises a first sheet member and a second sheetmember, the first sheet member forming a plurality of tubes, the secondsheet member forming a plurality of tubes, an extension being formed onone side of the two sheet members, the first sheet member and the secondsheet member being bonded to each other in a back-to-back manner to forman air sack like internal space between the two sheet members, theextension forming therein an air vent adapted to communicate theoutside.
 20. The air cushion pad according to claim 18, wherein theintermediate lining layer comprises a double-sided lining member and theintermediate lining layer comprises hollow tubes integrally formed onopposite surfaces of a plate.
 21. The air cushion pad according to claim18, wherein the tubes of the upper sheet member, the intermediate lininglayer, and the lower sheet member are selectively provided with a lidmade of a rigid material.
 22. The air cushion pad according to claim 18,wherein the tubes have tubular walls between which connection ribs arearranged, each of the connection ribs having a top having a centralportion forming a notch, the connection ribs being arranged at a 90degree angular interval around each of the tubes.
 23. The air cushionpad according to claim 18, wherein the tubes have tip end positionedagainst opposite sheet member.
 24. The air cushion pad according toclaim 18, wherein the tubes of the upper sheet member, the lower sheetmember, and the intermediate lining layer are selectively different inlength.
 25. The air cushion pad according to claim 18, wherein the tubeshave tip ends that are of a predetermined shape, including a dome shape,a flat configuration, and an inwardly recessed configuration.
 26. Theair cushion pad according to claim 18, wherein upper sheet member, theat least one intermediate lining layer, and the lower sheet member arerespectively provided on outer sides thereof with outer enclosure filmsthat have outer circumferences bonded together to form an enclosed sackbetween the outer enclosure films.
 27. The air cushion pad according toclaim 18, wherein the cushion pad comprises tubes that are locallydistributed in large zones and tubes that are locally distributed insmall zones.
 28. The air cushion pad according to claim 18, wherein thetubes form notches having a depth m in tubular walls thereof and thetubes comprise connection ribs having a height n, which satisfy thefollowing condition: m=n/2, the connection ribs being arranged at 90degree angular interval around each of the tubes.
 29. The air cushionpad according to claim 18, wherein the tubes comprise ribs formed on anouter surface thereof and the ribs are arranged at 90 degree angularinterval along the outer surface.
 30. The air cushion pad according toclaim 18, wherein the tubes are square tubes having a hollow interiorforming a circular cavity
 31. The air cushion pad according to claim 18,wherein the hollow tubes of the upper sheet member and the lower sheetmember are fit to each other in such a way that every two tubes surroundone tube along a line.
 32. The air cushion pad according to claim 18,wherein the tubes have tubular walls that have a non-uniform wallthickness.
 33. The air cushion pad according to claim 18, wherein thetubes have a side wall that is of a slope.
 34. The air cushion padaccording to claim 18, wherein the upper sheet member and the lowersheet member are connected to each other by a leaf